Coptic

January 15 – 24, 2026 | Cambridge, UK

Explore the Coptic Language with Expert Guidance

Step into the world of early Christian Egypt through our immersive Coptic course, part of the Westminster Ancient Languages Winter School. Whether you’re a linguist, historian, or theologian encountering Coptic for the first time, this intensive programme offers a rigorous yet accessible foundation in the language of Egypt’s early Christian communities.

Online Option

You can participate in the class remotely via Zoom. The online option offers full access to classes, teaching resources and discussion, and costs 75% of the in-person fee. See the Costs section below for details.

What You’ll Learn

• Coptic Alphabet & Script
  Learn to read and write the Sahidic dialect of Coptic—the most prominent literary variety—used in a vast body of early Christian literature.

• Grammar & Syntax
  Gain a solid grounding in Coptic grammatical structures, drawing on a clear, lesson-based approach tailored for first-time learners of the language.

• Vocabulary Development
  Build a working vocabulary that enables basic reading and comprehension of Coptic texts.

• Reading Practice
  Begin to read and analyse biblical, apocryphal, and patristic texts in their original Sahidic form.

Why Study Coptic?

• Access Foundational Texts
  Engage directly with primary Christian sources, including biblical translations and early monastic writings.

• Broaden Your Linguistic Horizons
  Coptic serves as a crucial bridge between Greek and Arabic traditions, especially valuable for researchers in biblical studies, patristics, and Near Eastern Christianity.

• Support Your Academic Research
  Equip yourself with tools to explore manuscript traditions and textual transmission across Coptic, Arabic, and Ethiopic.

Meet Your Tutor: Dr. Alin Suciu

Dr. Alin Suciu is a Senior Researcher at the Göttingen Academy and Docent in Early Christian Literature and Coptic Christianity at the University of Helsinki. He holds a PhD from Laval University, Québec, and serves on the board of the International Association for Coptic Studies (IACS).

His research focuses on the transmission of biblical, apocryphal, and patristic texts in Coptic, and their translation into Arabic and Ethiopic. He contributes to the Göttingen digital edition of the Coptic Sahidic Bible and has published extensively in the field.

Course Schedule

Arrivals: Thursday, January 15 (between 11:00am–1:00pm)
Departures: Saturday, January 24 (after lunch)

Daily Timetable (January 16–23)

Note: January 15 and 24 feature a half-day of teaching. No classes will be held on Sunday, January 19.

Key Information

Accommodation

On-site accommodation at Westminster College may be available and is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please indicate interest on your booking form. Our team will follow up to confirm availability.

Cost

• Early Bird Rate (until July 31, 2025): £550 in-person/£400 online

• Standard Rate (from August 1, 2025): £750 in person/£550 online

• Student Discount: 10% off for current students

  • Early Bird with Student Discount: £495 (in-person), £360 (online)

  • Standard with Student Discount: £675 (in-person), £495 (online)

Included in the fee:
All teaching materials, weekday lunches, refreshments, and optional enrichment activities.

Required Text:
All materials will be provided. Students are not required to purchase Bentley Layton’s textbook but may find it a helpful supplementary resource: Coptic in 20 Lessons. Introduction to Sahidic Coptic (Leuven: Peeters, 2007).

Nb: PowerPoint slides from each session will be shared with students for further review.

Refunds:

• Full refunds will be provided on request up until and including the 31st August 2025.
• 50% refunds will be provided on request up until and including 31st October 2025.
• We regret that we we are unable to offer refunds after and including the 1st November 2025.

Study Hours

• 23 hours of live instruction

• 12 hours of guided independent study

Travel & Parking

Full travel details and parking information are available on our website. [Click here for details.]

How to Book

To reserve your place, please complete the booking form below. Spaces are limited, and early booking is highly recommended. Once we receive your booking, you will receive an invoice for payment. If you have requested accommodation, our team will contact you separately to arrange your stay.